Flies
One pair of wings, big eyes and short antennae.
Flies and true bugs
Two different groups share this page. True flies, such as hoverflies, have only one pair of wings: the back pair has shrunk to two tiny balancing knobs. True bugs, such as pond skaters and cicadas, have a sharp beak for piercing and sucking. Strictly speaking, only these are bugs.
How to tell
What makes a fly or true bug
True bugs
A pointed beak tucked under the head, for sucking sap or other insects.
Not grubs
Young true bugs look like small adults without wings. Young flies are legless maggots.
British bugs
African bugs
Asian bugs
Australian bugs
North American bugs
Tap any of them for its own page of facts and photos, or to have it follow you.
All the types